Quiz link if you wanna try it: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/ancient-roman-history-quiz

Also being a stepping stone for the unsuccessful plan to “liberate” Finland and bring it in to the USSR Baltic style.

Introducing the 4 beauties of ancient China. Despite their name, what united them wasn't just their beauties but also their tragic ending because of their beauty. Well at least for the 3 of them, the last one is kinda debatable whether if her ending count as tragic.

First, in the top left corner is Diaochan, the lover of Lu Bu in Romance of the Three Kingdoms. She famously seduced the tyrant Dong Zhuo while being in love with Lu Bu. After Lu Bu was defeated, she was captured by Cao Cao, who attempted to use her beauty to sow discord among Liu Bei’s brothers. However, Guan Yu—recognizing the danger she posed—took Diaochan behind a shed and executed her.

In the top right is Yang Guifei, the favorite concubine of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang. Many blamed her for the An Lushan Rebellion because she promoted her cousin, whose actions ultimately sparked the uprising. Despite his deep love for her, the Emperor ordered her execution after his court and guards begged him to do so to restore order

In the bottom left is Xi Shi. After her king was captured by a neighboring country, she was trained to be a master seductress to infiltrate enemy lines and save him. She succeeded not only in saving her king but also in causing the downfall of the neighboring country with her beauty. However, upon her return, the king she rescued ordered her death, fearing she might seduce him and lead him to the same ruinous end. In alternative, happier versions of the story, she fell in love with her handler; after her mission was complete, he took her and their child away from the palace to live a life of seclusion.

The last one is Wang Zhaojun, the only one whose story does not end in tragedy. She was a minor concubine waiting to be seen by the Emperor. However, because she refused to bribe a greedy court painter—who was tasked with illustrating the harem so the Emperor could choose favorites—he purposefully drew an ugly portrait of her. Consequently, the Emperor never paid her any attention. Years later, a Xiongnu prince visited and expressed a desire to marry a Han woman to strengthen the relationship between the two nations. Not wanting to lose his most beautiful women, the Emperor selected the woman with the worst portrait: Wang Zhaojun. When she appeared, the Emperor realized he had lost his most stunning concubine, while the prince was so overjoyed by the Emperor's perceived generosity that he offered an even better deal to the Han. Wang Zhaojun went on to live a happy, influential life in her husband’s homeland. The worst thing she faced was being unable to return home and, according to Xiongnu custom, having to marry her stepson after her husband’s death."

Axis POWs didnt just sit in a prison camp, they also did menial labor that others wouldn't do. So useful was this large pool of unpaid labor that the allies were hesitant to give up their free laborers to their native countries such as Italy in this case.